Power file for narrow processing environments

ABSTRACT

A power file is driven by an external power source and has a body, a socket, and a driven module. The body is connected to the external power source and has a driving portion having a driving axle. The socket is rotatably engaged with the body. The driven module is disposed in the socket, is connected to the body, and has a swinging unit and a fastening member. The swinging unit is eccentrically connected to the driving axle. The fastening member forms an angle with the driving portion and includes a middle portion, a pivoting end, and a connecting end. The middle portion is swingably connected to the socket. The pivoting end of the fastening member is pivotally connected to the swinging unit. The connecting end of the fastening member protrudes out of the socket.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a power file, and more particularly to a power file that can be used for grinding and polishing in a narrow space.

2. Description of Related Art

A file is a tool for grinding and polishing a workpiece with uneven surfaces or edges. With reference to FIG. 11, a conventional power file 80 comprises a shell, a handle 81, a pivoting module 82, and a fastening member 83. The handle 81 is a portion of the shell of the power file 80, and is formed as a cylinder with a longitudinal direction. The handle 81 has a driving module inside the handle 81. The pivoting module 82 is fixed to the shell of the power file 80, and the pivoting module 82 comprises a pivoting bolt 821. The fastening member 83 is pivotally connected to the pivoting module 82 by the pivoting bolt 821, and extends along the longitudinal direction of the handle 81. The fastening member 83 has two ends, respectively connected to the driving module and a tool such as a file blade or a sharpening stone. Driven by the driving module, the fastening member 83 can swing around the pivoting bolt 821, and further grind and polish the workpiece by the connected file blade or the sharpening stone.

However, the conventional power file 80 has a shortcoming.

As the fastening member 83 extends along the longitudinal direction of the handle 81, an overall length of the power file 80 becomes too long to work in a narrow processing environment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a power file for narrow processing environments, which improves fitness of the power file to work in different types of narrow spaces.

The power file is driven by an external power source and comprises a body, a socket, and a driven module. The body is connected to the external power source and has a driving portion comprising a driving axle. The socket is rotatably engaged with the body. The driven module is disposed in the socket, is connected to the body, and has a swinging unit and a fastening member. The swinging unit is eccentrically connected to the driving axle. The fastening member forms an angle with the driving portion and comprises a middle portion, a pivoting end, and a connecting end. The middle portion is swingably connected to the socket. The pivoting end of the fastening member is pivotally connected to the swinging unit. The connecting end of the fastening member protrudes out of the socket.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a power file in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged and exploded perspective view of the power file in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view in partial section of the power file in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged bottom side view in partial section of the power file in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an operational side view of the power file in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is another operational bottom side view of the power file in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a further operational side view of the power file in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an operational perspective view of the power file in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a power file in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged side view in partial section of the power file in FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a power file in accordance with the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, a first embodiment of a power file for narrow working environments in accordance with the present invention comprises a body 10, a socket 20, and a driven module 30.

With reference to FIG. 1, the body 10 has a connecting portion 11 and a driving portion 12. The connecting portion 11 is disposed in an inclined manner, electrically connects to an external power source, and has an interior. The driving portion 12 is disposed vertically, is mounted with the connecting portion 11 away from the external power source, and has an interior communicating with the interior of the connecting portion 11.

Moreover, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the driving portion 12 has a driving axle 121 and an abutting circumference 122. The driving axle 121 is disposed at a center of the driving portion 12, and is disposed inside the driving portion 12. The driving axle 121 further extends downwardly and out of a bottom side of the driving portion 12. Surrounding a circular surface of the driving portion 12, the abutting circumference 122 is located near the bottom side of the driving portion 12, so the driving axle 121 protrudes below the abutting circumference 122. In the first embodiment, the external power source may offer a pneumatic power so that pressurized air is able to flow through the interior of the connecting portion 11 and the interior of the driving portion, and actuate the driving axle 121.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the socket 20 is rotatably mounted to the body 10, and has an installation chamber 21, a cavity 22, and a pushing block 23. The installation chamber 21 is mounted to the driving portion 12. The installation chamber 21 is a round chamber, which is caved in from a top side of the socket 20, and the installation chamber 21 has a groove 211 radially disposed. The cavity 22 is disposed at a bottom of the socket 20, and communicates to the installation chamber 21. In addition, the cavity 22 has an opening 221, which is laterally disposed such that the installation chamber 21 and the cavity 22 form an L-shaped interior inside the socket 20.

Furthermore, the opening 221 and the groove 211 are toward the same direction. The pushing block 23 is movably mounted in the groove 211. As the body 10 and the socket 20 are engaged with each other, the abutting circumference 122 of the driving portion 12 is inserted into the installation chamber 21. A fastener 231 could be mounted through the socket 20 into the groove 211, and further press the abutting circumference 122 by pressing the pushing block 23. Due to pressing between the abutting circumference 122 and the pushing block 23, the body 10 and the socket 20 are fixed together. Consequently, the driving axle 121 extends into the cavity 22.

With reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, the driven module 30 is mounted inside the socket 20 and is connected to the body 10. The driven module 30 comprises a rolling bearing 301, a thrust bearing 302, a driving block 31, a swinging unit 32, a restricting unit 33, and a fastening member 34. Mounted inside the cavity 22, the driving block 31 is concentrically screwed with the driving axle 121, so the driving block 31 rotates along with the driving axle 121.

The swinging unit 32 is engaged with the driving block 31. The swinging unit 32 has a ball joint 321 and a pivoting portion 322 on two ends of the swinging unit 32, respectively. The ball joint 321 is engaged with the driving block 31 via the rolling bearing 301. Furthermore, not coaxial to the driving axle 121, the ball joint 321 acts eccentrically as the driving block 31 rotates. Besides, as shown in FIG. 3, the swinging unit 32 is vertically located near the opening 221, relative to the driving axle 121.

The restricting unit 33 is mounted to the cavity 22 near the top side of the socket 20. Two locking units 330 separately penetrate the socket 20, extend into the cavity 22, and engage with the restricting unit 33. Also, the restricting unit 33 has a restricting hole 331 formed through the restricting unit 33 vertically.

The fastening member 34 is pivotally mounted to the swinging unit 32 and the restricting unit 33. The fastening member 34 comprises a through hole 343, a pivoting end 341, and a connecting end 342. The through hole 343 is formed through a middle portion of the fastening member 34. A pivoting bolt 35 passes through the through hole 343, the thrust bearing 302, and the restricting hole 331, and eventually is engaged with a nut 351. As a result, the fastening member 34, the thrust bearing 302, and the restricting unit 33 are clipped in order by the pivoting bolt 35 and the nut 351. The pivoting end 341 and the connecting end 342 are disposed at two ends of the fastening member 34, respectively. The pivoting end 341 is located in the cavity 22, and is pivotally mounted to the pivoting portion 322 of the swinging unit 32. The connecting end 342 protrudes out of the opening 221, and is able to connect a tool such as a file blade or a sharpening stone.

When the ball joint 321 along with the driving block 31 has turned 180 degrees relative to the driving axle 121, positions of the elements are shown in FIG. 5. With reference to FIGS. 3 and 5, the fastening member 34 is disabled by the restricting unit 33 to extend and retract relative to the opening 221, and that further limits the pivoting portion 322 of the swinging unit 32 from moving back and forth. To maintain the connection between the pivoting end 341 and the rolling bearing 301, the swinging unit 32 therefore swings and is inclined.

Moreover, with reference to FIGS. 4, 6, and 7, during the rotation of the driving block 31, the pivoting end 341 tends to sway relative to the pivoting bolt 35 as being led by the pivoting portion 322 of the swinging unit 32. So the connecting end 342 sways opposite to the pivoting end 341, and enables the tool attached to the connecting end 342 to grind and polish a surface of a workpiece.

To work with the first embodiment in a narrow space, an angle between the fastening member 34 and the connecting portion 11 may be adjusted to reach a better working effect. With reference to FIG. 8, a user may loosen the fastener 231 to enable the socket 20 to roll against the driving portion 12, so the angle between the fastening member 34 and the connecting portion 11 becomes adjustable. Confirming the angle adjustment, the user may refasten the fastener 231 and press the pushing block 23 and the abutting circumference 122 once again, so as to refix the body 10 and the socket 20 for further use.

A second embodiment of a power file for narrow working environments in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. The difference between the first and the second embodiments is that in the second embodiment, the body 10 further comprises an extending portion 13 and a transmitting portion 14.

The extending portion 13 forms a cylinder, and connects the driving portion 12 and the socket 20. The extending portion 13 has an abutting base 131 and a transmission shaft 132. Inserted into the installation chamber 21, the abutting base 131 is used to fix the body 10 and the socket 20, via pressing of the pushing block 23. The transmission shaft 132 is disposed inside the extending portion 13. And the transmission shaft 132 has a screw end 133, which is protruded to be screwed with the driving block 31.

The transmitting portion 14 is disposed between the driving portion 12 and the extending portion 13, inside the body 10. The transmitting portion 14 contains a first block 141 and a second block 142. The first block 141 is engaged with the driving axle 121. The second block 142 is engaged with an end of the extending portion 13 that is away from the screw end 133. Also, the two blocks 141, 142 have paired configurations to each other so that the two blocks 141, 142 may concentrically engage with each other. Therefore, the transmitting portion 14 can transmit the rotation from the driving axle 121 to the transmission axle 132, and further to the driving block 31 to motivate the fastening member 34 of the driven module 30.

With the aforementioned technical features, the power file for narrow working environments has the following advantages.

1. An angle formed between the driving portion 12 and the fastening member 34 effectively decreases an overall length of the power file, and overcomes the shortcoming of the conventional power file 80 that is too long to work in a narrow space.

2. The driving portion 12 can be further connected to the extending portion 13 so as to enter a deeper narrow space.

3. The socket 20 is rotatably mounted to the body 10, so the pointing direction of the fastening member 34 may be changed. That improves fitness of the power file to work in different types of narrow spaces.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and features of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A power file that is driven by an external power source, the power file comprising: a body connected to the external power source and having a driving portion comprising a driving axle; a socket rotatably engaged with the body; and a driven module disposed in the socket, connected to the body, and having a swinging unit eccentrically connected to the driving axle; and a fastening member forming an angle with the driving portion and comprising a middle portion swingably connected to the socket; a pivoting end pivotally connected to the swinging unit; and a connecting end protruding out of the socket.
 2. The power file as claimed in claim 1, wherein the socket further comprises: an installation chamber inserted by the driving portion and having a groove radially disposed beside the installation chamber; and a pushing block disposed in the groove and being able to press the driving portion.
 3. The power file as claimed in claim 2, wherein the body further has a connecting portion connected to the external power source and mounted inclinedly to the driving portion.
 4. The power file as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driven module further comprises: a driving block concentrically screwed with the driving axle, and eccentrically mounted to the swinging unit; and a restricting unit firmly mounted to the socket, and pivotally connected to the fastening member.
 5. The power file as claimed in claim 2, wherein the driven module further comprises: a driving block concentrically screwed with the driving axle, and eccentrically mounted to the swinging unit; and a restricting unit firmly mounted to the socket, and pivotally connected to the fastening member.
 6. The power file as claimed in claim 3, wherein the driven module further comprises: a driving block concentrically screwed with the driving axle, and eccentrically mounted to the swinging unit; and a restricting unit firmly mounted to the socket, and pivotally connected to the fastening member.
 7. The power file as claimed in claim 4, wherein the swinging unit further has: a ball joint eccentrically connected to the driving block via a rolling bearing; and a pivoting portion pivotally connected to the fastening member.
 8. The power file as claimed in claim 5, wherein the swinging unit further has: a ball joint eccentrically connected to the driving block via a rolling bearing; and a pivoting portion pivotally connected to the fastening member.
 9. The power file as claimed in claim 6, wherein the swinging unit further has: a ball joint eccentrically connected to the driving block via a rolling bearing; and a pivoting portion pivotally connected to the fastening member.
 10. The power file as claimed in claim 9, wherein the restricting unit and the fastening member are pivotally connected via a pivoting bolt, and a thrust bearing is disposed between the restricting unit and the fastening member.
 11. The power file as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body further has an extending portion connected to the driving portion and having a transmission shaft concentrically connected to the driving axle; and the socket further has an installation chamber inserted by the extending portion and having a groove radially disposed beside the installation chamber; and a pushing block disposed in the groove and being able to press the extending portion.
 12. The power file as claimed in claim 11, wherein the body further has: a transmitting portion comprising a first block engaged with the driving axle; and a second block engaged with the transmission shaft and the first block.
 13. The power file as claimed in claim 12, wherein the body further has: a connecting portion connected to the external power source and mounted inclinedly to the driving portion.
 14. The power file as claimed in claim 11, wherein the driven module further comprises: a driving block concentrically screwed with the driving axle, and eccentrically mounted to the swinging unit; and a restricting unit firmly mounted to the socket, and pivotally connected to the fastening member.
 15. The power file as claimed in claim 12, wherein the driven module further comprises: a driving block concentrically screwed with the driving axle, and eccentrically mounted to the swinging unit; and a restricting unit firmly mounted to the socket, and pivotally connected to the fastening member.
 16. The power file as claimed in claim 13, wherein the driven module further comprises: a driving block concentrically screwed with the driving axle, and eccentrically mounted to the swinging unit; and a restricting unit firmly mounted to the socket, and pivotally connected to the fastening member.
 17. The power file as claimed in claim 14, wherein the swinging unit further has: a ball joint eccentrically connected to the driving block via a rolling bearing; and a pivoting portion pivotally connected to the fastening member.
 18. The power file as claimed in claim 15, wherein the swinging unit further has: a ball joint eccentrically connected to the driving block via a rolling bearing; and a pivoting portion pivotally connected to the fastening member.
 19. The power file as claimed in claim 16, wherein the swinging unit further has: a ball joint eccentrically connected to the driving block via a rolling bearing; and a pivoting portion pivotally connected to the fastening member.
 20. The power file as claimed in claim 19, wherein the restricting unit and the fastening member are pivotally connected via a pivoting bolt, and a thrust bearing is disposed between the restricting unit and the fastening member. 